Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
ITA All-American Championships
Wildcats Complete First Day of ITA All-American Championships
9/27/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Sept. 27, 2014
TULSA, Okla. -- Northwestern wrapped its first day at the ITA All-American Championships on Saturday in prequalifying competition. Six Wildcats participated in the draw, and sophomores Konrad Zieba and Strong Kirchheimer and freshman Logan Staggs earned spots into the third round on Sunday.
In the first round, Carlos Benito of Georgia Tech bested sophomore Alp Horoz 6-5, 7-5, and junior Fedor Baev fell to University of Florida's Diego Hidalgo 6-4, 6-2. However, freshman Logan Staggs achieved his first collegiate win against Nils Hallestrand of Iowa, prevailing 6-2, 6-3.
Junior Mihir Kumar, Zieba, and Kirchheimer had byes in the first round.
Coming off his bye, Kirchheimer made a statement in the second round with a quick 6-0, 6-0 victory over Memphis's Louis Asser. Zieba took three sets and a close third frame to punch his ticket to Sunday, beating Utah's Cedric Willems 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (6).
Staggs defeated Andrew Dzulynsky of Nebraska 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 to secure a spot in the third round as well.
Kumar played a tight, tough battle against Matthew Kirby of Tulsa in the second, but Kirby ultimately came out on top 7-6 (5), 7-6 (2).
On Sunday, Zieba faces Rishab Agarwai of Mississippi State, and Kirchheimer squares off against Iowa's Matt Hagan. Staggs will play Justin Carter of UMBC.
Horoz, Kumar, and Baev will also play in a consolation round on Sunday. Preseason No. 78 sophomore Sam Shropshire will begin play in the qualifying draw on Monday.
For more information on the ITA All-American Championships visit the tournament website.
Singles Prequalifying First Round
Carlos Benito (Georgia Tech) def. Alp Horoz (NU) 6-4, 7-5
Diego Hidalgo (FL) def. Fedor Baev (NU) 6-4, 6-2
Logan Staggs (NU) def. Nils Hallestrand (IOWA) 6-2, 6-3
Mihir Kumar (NU) – BYE
Konrad Zieba (NU) – BYE
Strong Kirchheimer (NU) – BYE
Singles Prequalifying Second Round
Matthew Kirby (TULSA) def. Mihir Kumar (NU) 7-6 (5), 7-6 (2)
Konrad Zieba (NU) def. Cedric Willems (UTAH) 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (6)
Strong Kirchheimer (NU) def. Louis Asser (MEMPHIS) 6-0, 6-0
Logan Staggs (NU) def. Andrew Dzulynsky (NEB) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
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